Power moistening-machine.



C. H. CROW ELL. POWER MOISTENING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I5, 1916.

' Patented May 28,1918.

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C. H. CROWELL.

POWER MOISTENING MACHINE.

APPLICATXDN FILED SEPT. \5. 191a.

Patented May 28,1918

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C. H. CROWELL. POWER MOISTENING MACHJNL APPLICATION FILED saw. as. 1915.

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POWER MOISTENING-MACHINE.

Application filed September 15, 1916.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES H. CRowELL,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, county of Kings, State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Power Moistening-Machines, of which the following is a speci fication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My present invention has for its object a new and improved moistening machine for cutting strips of gummed tape of various lengths from a roll, moistening the same and delivering them in a flat condition ready for application to boxes, packages, tablets and the like.

The invention relates particularly to improvements on the machine shown in my prior patent dated April 28, 1914, N0. 1,095,1 12. The machine shown in that patent includes a support for the roll of gummed tape, a reciprocating knife for severing it at predetermined points, moistening mechanism and a conveyer interposed between the knife and the moistening mechanism. The tape is withdrawn from the roll by a positive feed mechanism running at a substantially constant speed. The feed mechanism pushes forward the stay strip until the end is received within a conveyer which thereafter advances the severed piece of stay strip to the moistening mechanism. The speed of the moistening mechanism is variable and is greater than that of the conveyer so that as soon as the end of the stay strip reaches the convever the stay strip is pulled forward rapidly out of the conveyer.

The machine embodying my present invention has the same general mode of operation but contains important improvements which insure more continuous and satisfactory operation and do away with certain difiiculties which have been found to exist.

These impro ements relate particularly to Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 28, 1918.

Serial No. 120,402.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section,

of a machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4: is a section on line tl of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail of the stopping and starting mechanism for the knife.

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 5 as viewed from the right.

Fig. 7 is a detail of the mechanism for guiding the paper past the knife roll.

Referring to the drawings, the stay strip passing through the machine is designated A, and the roll from which it is drawn is marked B. The machine is provided with a suitable frame C and is operated by power as for instance by an electric motor D. The gummed tape A passes from the roll B under a fixed tension bar 11 over a tension roll 12 and under a second fixed tension bar 13. Thence it. passes between feed rolls 1% and 15, through the severing mechanism comprising a knife roll 16 and a bed roll 17. Next it passes through the conveyer comprising upper and lower belts 18 and 19 respectively carried by two pairs of rolls 20 and 21, 22 and 23 respectively. It then passes through moistening mechanism comprising a top roll 24 and moistening roll 25.

The roll of gummed tape B is placed in a holder which comprises a pair of flanges 26 and 27 carried on a rod 28. The flange 26 is adjacent a hub 29 secured in place on the rod 28 by a thumb screw 30. A spring is interposed between the hub 29 and the flange 26 and presses the flange against the roll of gummed tape with a yielding pressure which supplies the necessary tension for the tape. To put the tape in place the thumb screw 30 is loosened and the flange 26 and hub 29 are removed. The roll of tape is then put on the rod 28 which passes through the hole in the wooden core of the roll. The flange and hub are then replaced, the hub 29 being located in the proper position to give the requisite tension. If the tape is not wound in a roll but is in the form of a package, it may be laid in place, the rod 28 being removed.

After passing under the fixed tension bar 11, over the roll 12 and under the tension bar 13, the tape passes between the two feed rolls 14 and 15 which are positively driven as will be later described. These two rolls draw the tape from the roll and push it forward between two guides 32, 83 and then through the severing mechanism comprising a bed roll 17, and a knife roll 16. On the other side of the severing mechanism there is another pair of guides 38 and 39 which guide the end of the stay strip into the conveyor. The rolls I i and are provided with annular grooves a see Figs. 1 and 7 and the guides 32 and 33 have fingers or projections 79 which lie in the said grooves a.

The upper guides and 38 are slidable toward and away from the severing mechanism shown in Fig. 7 so that the space from the feed rolls to the conveyer may be completely bridged except just at the time when its cutting is taking place. he ends of the guides and 38 slide in grooves 64: and in the frame of the machine. These grooves are shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. At each end is a spring 66 and 67 which tend to pull the two guides together toward the cutting mechanism. On each end of the knife roll 16 is located a cam (38 which has a projection thereon which contacts with the top guide p ates and 38 once in everv revolution of the knife roll and separates the guide plates enough to allow the knife to operate. It will be seen that the projection f on the cam is located adjacent the knife so that the ope 1g of the guide plates takes place at the proper time. The grooves in the upper feed roll Hare deep enough to allow the movement of the upper guide plate without producing any unbridged space between them.

This construction is such that the end of the stay strip will follow the desired path even though it is bent or curled or somewhat moist or sticky. it being impossible for the stay strip to follow around the roll. The machine therefore, easy to thread and is continuous in its operation.

The knife roll 16 is normally stationary and is caused by suitable mechanism which will hereafter be described to operate periodicallf making a complete revolution whenever it is necessary to sever the tape.

This severing mechanism is believed to be of a novel character and depends for its action on the cooperation of a hard bed roll of steel or similar material and athin razor like knife arranged radially in a groove 35 in the roll 16. The knife oi. is adjusted by screws 36 until its cutting edge will barely contact with the bed roll 17 as the roll 16 revolves. This contact is so light that no injury done its edge. The knife is clamped in position after being adjusted by means of the screws 3?. If the knife is properly positioned with relation to the bed roll, it found that perfect cutting will be performed and that the'knife will remain sharp for a time. Tn its operation the knife 3 .sscs through the i a'per and part way through the layer of gum which is next the bed roll but nevercontacts with the harme gers dened bed roll with force enough to injure the edge of the blade.

After passing through the cutting mechanism the stray strip goes between the guide pieces 08 and 39 which guide it into the conveyor. Both the top and bottom belts 18 and 19 of the couveyer are made up of a series of narrow belts, there being, in the form shown in the drawings, seven of these narrow belts in one and siX in the other. The guide 38 is provided with fingers (Z and the guide. piece 39 with fingers c, said fingers c and (Z passing into the spaces between the pairs of narrow belts and in this way the end of the stay strip is guided into the conveyer and there is no possibility of its becoming folded or creased or going arount the conveyer rolls '20 or 2-1.

At 10., i1, are shown two guide pieces which bridge the space between the con ieyer rolls 22. 23 and the moistening rolls 24. 25. These guide pieces i0. i1 are also provided with fingers which enter the spaces between the narrow belts and serve a similar purpose to the fingers c and (Z'already described.

The nioisteniug mechanism comprises a corrugated moist ning roll 25 dipping in water in a pan 4'2 and having an upper roll 2%; which is set at a proper distance. from the corrugated moistening roll 25. At 43 is shown a ii 1 doctor of some flexible material. as for instance rubber which wipes against the surface of the upper roll 2% and removes-any moisture which has been taken up by the roll 2% from the moistening roll By locating the doctor 43 so that it will press firmly against the roll 2%,the roll maybe kept in perfect condition. This is a great improvement'over the methods heretofore employed Heretofore it has been customary to set the roll 2% in such a position that its surface will be just out of contact with the water on the moistening roll it h '3 been found in practice how ever that water will be carried inevitably onto the upper roll and thence distributed over the 'un'gummed side of the tape which injures the tape and interferes with its proper manipulation. My improved mechanism d scribed herein removes the moisture from the roll just before it contacts with the tape so that the roll always pre sents a d"v surface to the tape; therefore. the tape ies from the machine with the ungummed side perfectly dry.

The water pan 42 isa long one and eX tends back under the lower conveyer belt- 19 being supported at its rear on a ledge 4A up to which leads an inclined guide wa 45. The front'cnd of the pan rests on a hinged support- -l6 which. may be turned down out of the way when it is necesse to remove the pan. in putting the pan place, the pan is supported on the fiat bed 4-? and then is pushed back until the rear i ll end strikes the incline 45. As it is pushed back still farther the rear end rises until it reaches the ledge 44. The hinged rest 46 is then put in place under the front end of the pan and the pan is thus supported in proper position under the lower moistening roll 25. In this way I am enabled to provide a very large water pan and therefore to do away with the delay heretofore resulting from the necessity of filling the water pan frequently.

The various working instrumentalities of the machine are operated from the motor 1) as follows:

A gear 48 on the motor shaft meshes with a ear 49 forming part of a clutch 50, the otl er member 51 of the clutch 50 being mounted on one end of a shaft 52 which runs lengthwise of the machine. The clutch member 51 is slidable lengthwise of the shaft 52 and is operated by a fork 53 pivoted at 54 which is itself moved by linkage connected to a treadle 55. On the shaft 52 is a worm 56 engaging a worm gear 57 indicated by its pitch circle in Fig. 2. This worm gear 57 is on the shaft 58 of the lower feed wheel 15. The upper and lower feed wheels are geared together by means of the gears 59 and 60. Another worm 4 drives the worm gear 5 on the shaft 6. This worm and worm gear drive the cutting instrumentalities and will be hereinafter more fully described. Another worm 61 drives the worm gear 62 on the shaft 63 of the lower conveyer roll 21, the two conveyer'rolls 20 and 21 being geared together, by gears and 71. The rear conveyer rolls 22 and 23 are similarly driven by a worm 64 and worm gear 65. A worm 66 also drives the moistening mechanism.

On the shaft 72 on which the rear upper conveyer roll 22 is located, is a friction drive wheel. 7 3 coijperating with an idle friction drive wheel 74 which in turn bears against a friction drive wheel 75 located on a short shaft 76. The idle friction wheel 74 is mounted on a sleeve 81 which is slid able longitudinally of the shaft 77 being moved by means of a small hand wheel 78 which operates a pinion 79 meshing with the rack 80 on the sleeve 81. By turning the wheel 78 the idle friction wheel 74 is moved toward or away from the center of rotation of the friction wheel 75. If moved toward the center of rotation of the friction wheel 7 3 the effective diameter of the friction wheel 73 is reduced and the effective diameter of the friction wheel 75 is correspondingly increased thereby causing the shaft 76 to make a fewer number of revolutions relative to the revolutions made by the shaft 72. On the shaft 76 is a cam 82 having a notch g therein. Goiiperating with this cam is a swinging finger 83 fixed to the end of the rod 84 and normally held toward the left as shown in Fig. 6 by a spring 85. The rod 84 extends lengthwise of the machine and at its rear end carries a finger 86 shaped as shown in Fig. 5. On the shaft 6 previously referred to is a gear 88 which meshes with a gear 89 loose on the shaft 90 of the knife roll. The gear 89 has secured to it by screws 91 or in some other suitable manner an annular notched plate 92 (see Figs. 3 and 5) having ratchet notches 93 on its surface. At 94 is shown a hub fast to the knife roll shaft 90. This hub is solid and contains a notched pawl 95 adapted to cooperate with the ratchet notches on the inner surface of the annular plate 92. The pawl 95 is held normally toward the notches 93 by means of a spring 96 and it has on its left hand side (see Figs. 3 and 5) a projection 97. This projection 97 is in the path of the arm 86 on the rod 84 previously referred to. The parts are normally in the position shown in Fig. 5 with the projection 97 against the lower end of the arm 86 so that the pawl 95 is drawn back and is disengaged from the teeth 93 on the annular hub 92. Since the pawl 95 is normally disengaged from the teeth 93 the knife shaft 90 is normally stationary and the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 5 and the knife is out of e-n gagement with the bed roll. Rigidly mounted on the knife roll shaft 90 is a gear 7 which meshes with a gear 8 similarly mounted on the bed roll shaft.

The periodical operation of the knife roll is produced by means of the cam 82. When the notch g in the cam 82 comes around so that the arm 83 moves to the left as shown in Fig. 6, the arm 86 releases the pawl 95 and the spring 96 causes it to engage with the notched annular plate 92 so that the gear 89 which is constantly rotating will revolve the knife roll shaft and attached parts for one revolution, 2'. 0., until the projection 97 on the pawl 95 contacts with the lower end of the arm 86 and thereby disengages the pawl and stops the knife roll shaft. The frequency with which the knife roll shaft is caused to make its cycle of movement is controlled by the hand wheel 78 which therefore controls the length of strip which will be delivered by the machine. If the regulating wheel 78 is turned in one direction the cam is caused to set the knife roll shaft in motion more frequently and therefore the ma chine will deliver shorter pieces of stay strip.

if longer pieces are desired the adjusting short. I find that this works very satisfactorily under actual working conditions be-. causethe operator who is applying the pieces of stay strip to boxes or the like requires ly more time to handle a long proportiona strip than a short strip and the time required to handle a strip about in proportion to its length.

lVhat I claim is:

1. In a machine of the character described, the comblnation of a feeding mechanism,-

severing mechanism, a conveyer and 'moi stening mechanism, said conveyer comprising upper and lower belts each of which is itself composed of a plurality of adjacent narrow belts.

2. i In a machine of the character described,fl

ries of adjacent narrow belts, a guide memberbridging the space between said severing mechan sm and the conveyer, and being provided with fingers adapted to enter the spaces between the said adjacent narrow belts.

i. In a machine of the character described,

the combination with feeding rolls, severing mechanism, and a conveyer, of'a guide bridging the space betweentwo of said elements, and having fingers entering grooves in the peripheral surface of the member adjacent the space bridged by the guide.

5. In a machine of the character described,

the combination of feeding mechanism, a conveyer, severing mechanism, a guide bridging the space between said elements, said guide being shdable away from the cut ting mechanism, means operated by the cut-- ting mechanism to slide the guide to permit the passage of a cutting element, and moistening mechanism.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a bed roll, a knife roll, a knife thereon, feeding mechanism comprising revolving members adjacent thereto, a guide bridging the space between the cutting mechanism and the revolving element, said guide being slidable toward and away from the cutting element, a cam on the knife roll,a cam acting on the guide to move it away from the knife roll periodically moistening mechanism and a conveyer which transfers from the cutting mechanism to the moistening mechanism.

7. In a machine of the character described, the improved cutting mechanism which comprises a rigid, hardened bed roll,a rotating 1 nee-arr knife'shaft and a thin razor like knife rigidly mounted on said revolvingknife shaft.

8. In amachine of the character described, the combination of a rotary knife roll -car-' rying a knife blade mounted in the-periphery thereof, a cooperating bed with whiclr said knife engages once at each'rotation,

feed mechanism which feeds a strip betweenroll, moistening mechanism and a conveyerwhich receives the severed strip and conveys a it to the moistening mechanism,

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination of feeding mechanism, normally stationary severing mechanism,-a conveyer and moistening mechanism, driving means for operating all of said mechanism except thesevering mechanism constantly, means for driving said severing mechanism, means for connecting and disconnecting the severing mechanism to or from said driving mechanism, and means for varying the periods between the successive act-nations of the severing mechanism.

10. In a machine of the character described,'the combination with feeding mechanism having a constant peripheral speed, a normally stationary severing mechanism, means for periodicallyactuating said severing mechanism, said means comprising a cam, two friction wheels, an idle friction wheel, and means for changing the position of the idle friction wheel relatively to the centers of rotation of the said frictionwheels, moistening mechanism and a conveyer which receives the severed article and transfers it to themoistening mechanism.

11. In a machine of the character described, intermittent actuating mechanism for the severing mechanism, comprising an annular wheel loose onthe shaft of the severinginechanism, a gear secured thereto, agear meshing therewith and driven by a constantly rotating part, a hubsecured to the shaft of the severing mechanism, a pawl carried thereby, means for causing said pawl to engage the said annular member and lock the parts together, a cam to actuate said pawl, driving means for said cam including means for changing the rate of rotation of the cam relative to the restof the machine,

moistening mechanism and a conveyer which receives the severed article from the severing mechanism and transfers it to the moistening mechanism.

12.-In a machine of the character described,a conveyor comprising a plurality of adjacent upper narrow belts running parallel with and in the same plane with each other, and a plurality of adjacent lower narrow belts running parallel with and in the same plane with each other, one set of belts being above the other, the proximate surfaces of the two sets of belts running in ii e same direction, the narrow belts of each set being arranged in close order whereby there is a substantially continuous bearing surface through the full width of the combined belts of each set,

13. In a machine of the character described, a conveyer comprising a plurality of adjacent upper narrow belts running parallel with and in the same plane with each other, and a plurality of adjacent lower narrow belts running parallel with and in the same plane with each other, one set. of belts being above the other, the proximate surfaces of the two sets of belts running in the same direction, the narrow belts of the upper and lower sets breaking joint with each other.

14:. In a machine of the character described, the combination of feeding mechanism, a conveyer, moistening mechanism, and severing mechanism intermediate the feed mechanism and conveyer, the surface speed of the conveyer being greater than that of the feeding mechanism.

15. In a machine of the character described, the combination of feeding mechanism, severing mechanism, a conveyer and moistening mechanism, said moistening mechanism comprising a moistening roll, a water basin into which said moistening roll dips during its rotation, a presser roll which presses firmly against the periphery of said moistening roll, and a yielding scraper which engages the periphery of the said presser roll, the conveyer being so located with relation to the moistening roll that it feeds a strip between the moistening roll and the presser roll, the said scraper being so located that every portion of the periphery of the moistening roll after passing through the water engages with the said scraper before it engages with the strip which is being fed.

16. In a machine of the character de scribed, the combination of feeding mecha nism, severing mechanism, a conveyer and moistening mechanism, said moistening mechanism comprising a moistening roll, a water basin into which said moistening roll dips during its rotation, and a presser roll which presses firmly against the periphery of said moistening roll, the strip after passing through the conveyer passing between the said moistening roll and presser roll.

17. In a machine of the character described, in combination with feeding mechanism, a conveyer and moistening mechanism, cutting mechanism intermediate the feed mechanism and conveyer, said cutting mechanism comprising a rotary bed roll, a

rotary knife roll and a blade mounted on said knife roll which cooperates with said bed roll, means for constantly rotating the bed. roll, means for intermittently rotating the knife roll and means for stopping the rotation of the knife roll at the end of each rotation.

18. In a machine of the character described, in combination with feeding mechanism, a conveyer and moistening mechanism, cutting mechanism intermediate the feed mechanism and conveyer, said cutting mechanism comprising a rotary bed roll, a rotary knife roll and a blade mounted on said knife roll which cooperates with said bed roll, means for constantly rotating the bed roll, means for intermittently rotating the knife roll and means for stopping the rotation of the knife roll at the end of each rotation, the peripheral speed of the knife roll being the same as the peripheral speed of the bed roll.

19. In a machine of the character described, in combination with feed mechanism, a conveyer and moistening mechanism, severing mechanism intermediate the feed mechanism and conveyer, said severing mechanism comprising a rotary knife roll having a knife mounted in the periphery thereof, a cooperating bed with which said knife engages once at each rotation, a conveyer which feeds a strip to said severing mechanism, means for actuating the knife roll intermittently, means for stopping the knife roll at'the end of each rotation, means for actuating the conveyer, a rotary member which controls the starting of the knife roll once during each rotation of said controlling member, and means for varying the speed of rotation of said controlling member with relation to the speed of the conveyer.

20. In a machine of the character described, the combination of feeding mechanism, severing mechanism, a conveyer and moistening mechanism, said severing mechanism comprising a rotary knife roll having a knife mounted in the periphery thereof, a cooperating bed with which said knife engages once at each rotation, a conveyer which feeds a strip to said severing mecha nism, means for actuating the knife roll intermittently, means for stopping the knife roll at the end of each rotation, means for actuating the conveyer, a rotary member which controls the starting of the knife roll once during each rotation of said controlling member, means for varying the speed of rotation of said controlling member with relation to the speed of the conveyer, and means for causing the conveyer and knife roll to move at the same surface speed.

21. In a machine of the character described, the combination of feeding mechanism, severing mechanism, a conveyer, and moistening mechanism, said moistening l'uechanism com )risin' a moisi enin roll a hm'in a lower rear ol'tion below the level b e Z s: resser roll Wlneh engages \nuh sald 1n01soi sand lnner supporcmg ledge and an 111- tenln roll a Water an mto Wlueh sald ellned 301*01011 leadln from szud lower level moistening roll dipsduring its rotation, and up to said ledge. l5 -5 a mount for sand Wat-er pan below the In testlmony whereof I afiix my slgnamolstemng roll, szud mount eonslstmg of a tale, 1n presence of two wltnesses. t Y 1 v I I led e beneath he conve ye to suppelt the CHARLES H. GROWELL inner end of the pan a drop hinge support for the outer end 01": the pan, and a slide lVitnesses:

14) Way to guide the pan When-sliding into @0- JEANNEITE EEUTER,

sition on said inner ledge said slide way LEON l3. DOWNES.

Unpies of this patent may be obtained. for five cents each by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 3). G. 

